化學教授沈聿溫博士
採訪：樓鎧博士
沈博士，去年美國電影金像獎片「火戰車」裏描寫的主人翁艾力呂道的故事已經轟動全球，艾力呂道在中國教書時，聽說是您的老師。
是的，他是出生在中國的英國宣道士的家庭，後來回到蘇格蘭去上學，因為他是運動健將，代表英國參加了世界運動會，得到四百米徑賽的第一名金牌獎，後來放棄了運動的錦繡前程，來中國教書，是在天津新學書院，他是化學系主任。我生在天津從小志在學化學，故在高一至高三時他與我接觸頻繁。上課之外，他還領查經班，並是學校運動會的主持人，後來中日戰爭，被囚在集中營，染疾不治，死在營中，他愛中國、愛學生的精神使我深深感動，也是我最早與基督教接近的一段時間。
您那時就信耶穌了嗎？
雖然我每星期都在校內中文禮拜堂司琴，但我並未認識耶穌，直到日本偷襲珍珠港，二次大戰爆發，我當時在燕京大學，被日本憲兵隊逮捕，關在地窖獄中，受到虐待苦刑，我才開始祈求禱告，上帝給我力量，脫離苦難。當時，最能使我受感動，而且增加我求生的希望的，就是耶穌在十字架時說的話：「我將我的靈魂交在天父的手裏」。
您是什麼時候從燕京大學畢業？
我是在1939年從燕大畢業，獲得理學學士，兩年以後又得到化學碩士學位。
燕大畢業以後，您是不是立即來美國進修和深造？
沒有，因為中日戰爭關係，我直等到 1950年才乘船到美國，當年進入哥倫比亞研究院攻讀，在1958年榮獲科學教育博士學位。
沈教授是什麼時候開始在美國大學教書？
在1952 年，我開始在紐澤西州，羅克大學藥物學院教化學，當時我還正趕寫博士論文。在1957年，我才轉到長島大學，算起來我在這裏已經教二十六個年頭了。
沈教授，您在長島大學盡心服務二十六年，在中國學人中，尚不多見，您教學的成就可否和我談談。
說到成就，實在是不敢當，但是今年因為教學已滿二十五年，學校頒發一張「教學優異」獎狀給我。
恭喜，您做什麼研究呢？
我的專門研究是分析化學及改進大學化學課程，曾在「化學教育」、「分析化學」、「化學」、「微量化學」等雜誌上發表過幾十篇論文，也寫過一本為大學生用的「普通化學實驗」。
您的化學貢獻很大，令人欽佩，一定常常有出外講學的機會吧？
一九七八年，我應聘去台灣講學，並參與改進高級中學科學課程，一九八二年應中國政府邀請，在北京工業大學講過美國對環境染的研究。
您去中國多久？
是暑假三個月的光景，在航空學院也講過學。
您訪問了不少地方吧？對中國觀感如何？
是的，我到處看了好些久違了的親友，以及昔日大學同學，知道他們在四人邦之下，曾有十年的光陰，白白的虛渡，那段時間知識份子受到委屈，可是四人邦下台之後，知識份子已被器重，四大建設的目標，知識份子要取帶頭的作用。
依您看中國的前途如何？
中國有四千多年的文化歷史，不知經過多少苦難，比較起來，十年的偏差時間很短，如今看來，我個人覺得頗為樂觀。
中國的教會您可曾去過？
我去過，在北京及上海的教堂都有人滿之患，主日人太擠，所以在週六也開放，我去時，坐在外賓樓上，八月間天氣相當熱，每人都手持蒲扇一把，一邊聽道，一邊搧風。
教會裏崇拜的情況如何？
牧師都是有資歷的老前輩，聚會的青年人似乎不少，老年人能來聽道，心靈得到無限安慰。
教會裏聖經嗎？
三自教會要求自給自足，不接受國外的援助，自印聖經，詩歌也是自己印了些簿本，分發給來聚會的信徒，註明用完留下，可以讓下次聚會的人用。
您對中國教會的觀念如何？
中國目前正努力四建運動，依我看很需要靈魂的安慰與精神的力量，基督教會是不可缺少的。
為什麼呢？
比方說，西方國家在科技上有今天，就是因為他們有基督的精神，來從格物致中尋找神的智慧。所以本著這種精神，科學在西方發展與發達起來，西諺：基督教是科學之母。
您是說基督教與科學不但不衝突，而且是有益？
從事科學的人，在微小的顆粒中漸漸了解創造宇宙的神秘與偉大。從牛頓到愛因斯坦，有誰能否認宇宙一切事物運行都有定律，這種情形，豈是偶然的？那麼我們還不該相信是萬能的神創造的麼？初學化學，明瞭些定律，我頗以為得意，將許多事情，看成簡單容易，等到研究愈深，愈感到所知有限，就更相信創造宇宙的神是多麼偉大了。
可是很多人不信神，不也一樣生活？
我認為不信神的人，生活是平淡的，無聊的，有耶穌做您生活的主宰，您會覺得人生有了目的，有了標竿，您可以鼓足勇氣，向前奔跑，不必再像浮萍一樣，無目的地在水面上浮來漂去。人生在世，時常會感到寂寞，可是有耶穌常住在您心中，您會感到祂永遠在陪伴著您、安慰您、鼓勵您勇敢地踏上人生的旅程。耶穌在言行中告訴我們，要謙虛，存著愛心去服侍人，只有信耶穌才能使我們領悟真理，獲得永生。一般人見到的只是眼前的繁榮，物質的享樂，但是這些不過是片刻的享受而已，要得到真正的喜樂與平安，唯有追隨和信靠主耶穌。
沈博士，您是怎樣如此堅定信耶穌的？
我從中學時期開始，有許多機會使我變為耶穌的門徒。我都以倔強的態度，驕傲的心理拒絕受洗，日本憲兵隊在北京捕我入獄。那次是神的大手，救我出獄，可是我並未了解，最近在紐約遭受車禍，愛妻受微傷。看到妻昏迷不醒，送到醫院，我才恍然大悟，耶穌幾次告訴我，應該讓祂永遠住在我的心中，我才誠心誠意地順從祂了。因為祂拯救了我的靈魂。
您的太太好了嗎？
感謝神，她已康復。
可否把您太太與家人介紹一下給O.K.的讀者？
我妻是名叫何逸岑，現在紐約公立小學教書，我們有兩男兩女，長子沈元駿在紐約萬國銀行任襄理，長媳葛蓓蕾在紐約私立小學教書，長女恩惠在愛班尼醫學中心醫院做外科醫生，次女
恩愛在聖荷西州立大學讀書，次子約翰在愛班尼法學院讀書，今年六月就可以畢業了。
真是一家人都各有所長，您們做父母的真了不起。
那兒的話，這都是神的恩典。
您們在什麼地方聚會呢？
我們是紐約基督徒團契的會員，每個星期日契友們在一起崇拜，做些事奉主的事工。
很好，沈博士，可否給O.K.雜誌讀者一些臨別贈言呢？
要說的話很多，可是怕會言不盡意，現在就讓我把我喜歡的聖經裏的話來作個臨別贈言吧：
「如今常存的有信、有望、有愛，這三樣其中最大的是愛。」（哥林多前書十三章十三節）
「人若喝我（耶穌）所賜的水，就永遠不渴，我所賜的水，要在他裏頭成為泉源，直湧到永生」（約翰福音四章十四節）
「耶穌說：我也不定你的罪，去罷，從此不要再犯罪了。」（約翰福音八章十一節）
「神愛世人，甚至將祂的獨生子賜給他們，叫一切信祂的，不至滅亡，反得永生」（約翰福音三章十六節）
願神祝福O.K.的讀者，像祂祝福我一樣。
Dr.
Samuel Shen,
B.S., M.S., Ed.D.
Dr. Shen, last year
the academy award winning motion picture, “Chariots of Fire” has made Eric Liddel, of the film a hero. I understand that he was your teacher
when he taught in
Yes, he was born in China of British
missionary parents. Later he went
back to
Did
you believe in Jesus then ?
Although
I was an accompanist for the Chinese Worship Service in the College every
Sunday, yet I didn’t know Jesus. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and with the outbreak of
World War II, I was then in
When
did you graduate from
I
graduated there with my B.S. degree in 1939. Two years later I received my M.S.
degree in chemistry from the same institution.
Did
you come to the States right after you graduated from Yenching
No.
Because of the Sino-Japanese War, I did not come to the United State3s until
1950. I studied at
Exactly
when did you start teaching here?
In
fact I started teaching at the
Professor
Shen, few Chinese scholars have dedicated themselves
to the service of a university for as long as you have. You must have achieved a great deal
during this period of time.
Not
exactly, But I did receive an award for 25 year’s excellency in teaching by
Congratulations!
Did you do research beside teaching?
My
research is specialized in analytical chemistry and in innovation and
improvement of college chemistry curriculum. I have published several dozens of
research papers in the Journal of Chemical Education, Analytical Chemistry,
Chemistry, Mikrochimica, etc. I also authored a book
entitle “A Practical Laboratory Manual for College Chemistry.”
Your
contributions to chemistry are rather numerous. I do admire you. I guess that you must
be having a lot of opportunities to lecture?
In
1978 I was invited to
How
long did you stay in
Three
months during the summer vacation. I also gave lectures in the
Did
you visit a lot of places and what is your impression of
Yes,
I traveled to many places to visit my relatives and friends as well as my
former schoolmates. Now that the
intellectuals have been given their rightful place in society, especially in
the four major goals of national construction,
In
your opinion what is the future of
Did
you attend church services in
Yes,
I did in Peking and
How
were the worship services going?
Pastors
are old and experienced ministers. There were many young people in the
congregation. The elderly were also interested in the worship services.
Do
they have enough Bibles to go around?
The
three-self churches want to be self-sufficient and self-reliant, and they do
not accept foreign aid. They print
their own Bibles. Hymn booklets are also printed locally. The hymn booklets are distributed to
worshippers and it was requested that they be returned for future use.
What
do you think about the church in
Why?
For
instance, the reason why the western world has made such great advancements in
science and technology is owing to the spirit of God. The western man searches
the wisdom of God through scientific research. Based on the spirit of searching
for God’s wisdom in the universe, western science has originated and
developed. That is why the western
proverb says, “Christianity is the mother of science.”
Are
you telling me that there is no conflict between Christianity and science and
that the former helps the latter?
Scientists
recognize the mystery and vastness of the universe through the study of small
particles. From
But
many do not believe in God, they seem to be doing all right?
I
think that those who do not believe in God live an empty and boring life. If you believe in Jesus as the Lord of
life, you will find life is purposeful, you will have a goal and you will be encouraged to run
your life’s pathway upward. Never
again will you be like a leaf drifting aimlessly and floating along with the
current. Man, in this day and age,
often finds himself lonely. Should
you have Jesus living in your heart, you would feel His constant
companionship. He will comfort you, encourage you to march forward in your life’s
journey. Jesus told us by His words
and His deeds: be humble and serve man with love. Only by believing in Jesus can we know
the Truth and gain eternal life.
Most people can see only the lust of the eyes and the materialistic
enjoyment. But these are temporary
satisfactions. If you want true
happiness and lasting peace the only way is to follow and trust in Jesus!
Dr.
Shen, how come you have such a strong faith in Jesus”
In
my high school days, I had a great deal of opportunity to become a disciple of
Jesus. I was then stubborn and
proud. I refused baptism into
Christ. When the
Japanese military police put me in jail in
Has
your wife recovered fully?
Thank
God, she is totally recovered.
Could
you introduce your wife and family members to our O.K. readers?
My
wife’s name is Eleanor. She is
teaching in a N.Y. public school.
My eldest son, Eugene, is an assistant vice president of City Bank in
All
of your family are professional. You, as parents, surely did a very good
job.
That
is all because of the grace of God.
Where
do you worship God?
We
are members of the New York Chinese Christian Fellowship. Every Sunday we worship together with
our fellow members and serve God in some small ways.
Very
good, Dr. Shen, Could you give our O.K. readers a few
words to bid them goodbye?
So
many things I want to say, but I am afraid that I could not really express it
well enough. Well, just let me
share with you some of my favorite Bible quotations instead as my gift to you all. “And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three, but the greatest of
these is love.” (I Corinthians 13:13)
“but whosoever drinketh of the water that I (Jesus)shall give
him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of
water springing up into everlasting life.” ( John
4:14)
“Jesus
said unto her: Neither do I condemn thee, go and sin no more.
” (John 8:11)
“For
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life.” (John 3:16)
May
God bless all the readers of O. K. Magazine as He has blessed me!